Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!

"No, we have to get Captain Unohana back to the Fourth Division immediately!"

Kyōraku Shunsui's voice was urgent. He was completely out of his depth treating Unohana Retsu's wound. Blood continued to pour from her chest, and his Kaidō ability amounted to almost nothing. As he spoke, he moved to lift her up in his arms.

"Wait!"

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni suddenly stopped him.

He forced himself to stay calm, to consider the possible consequences.

If they rushed Unohana back to the Fourth Division now, word would inevitably spread: the Tenth Division Captain and the Fourth Division Captain had fought a death match under the watchful eyes of the Head-Captain and other senior captains?

Could such a scandal be allowed to reach the public?

What would become of the Gotei 13's reputation?

Yamamoto took a deep breath and turned to Sasakibe Chōjirō. "Send word to the Fourth Division... to the Vice-Captain. Tell her to come here with a few medics."

The fewer people who knew about this, the better.

Chōjirō immediately left, using Tenteikūra to summon aid.

With his orders given, Yamamoto turned back toward Shin. The boy's expression was the same—calm and unreadable.

But Yamamoto couldn't think about what to do with him yet.

Saving Unohana came first.

Kyōraku was still doing everything he could. But outside the Fourth Division, no one really studied Kaidō. Even captains were no better than Spiritual Arts Academy students in this field.

Ukitake tried to reason with Shin.

"Shin-kun, are you really going to stand there and watch Captain Unohana die?"

Shin replied evenly, "What the Head-Captain told her didn't include anything about her needing to survive. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed. I'm fulfilling what we all wanted."

Ukitake looked down at the blood-drenched Unohana and fell silent.

They had considered many outcomes. The worst they expected was an overwhelming display of power, a massive Kidō spell, perhaps even a fatal accident in the chaos.

But for Unohana to be gravely wounded and Shin to simply refuse to help? They had never even brought a proper medic.

Yamamoto's face hardened into stone.

Isane Kotetsu arrived in a flash with two Fourth Division members, summoned by Sasakibe.

The moment she saw Unohana collapsed and barely breathing, it felt like a hammer crashed into her chest.

She nearly lost her mind.

She rushed to Unohana's side, replacing Kyōraku. Her panic made her fumble the initial Kaidō spell.

She forced herself to calm down, drawing deep breaths before beginning treatment.

The other two Fourth Division medics followed, stunned, but recovered quickly.

Sasakibe's message hadn't specified the victim—just that someone had suffered a severe heart wound and needed urgent care.

They'd brought emergency supplies and healing equipment.

To them, it had seemed like a simple emergency mission.

"Y—Yachiyo…" Unohana's voice rasped weakly.

Her face was smeared with the blood she had coughed up earlier—ghastly to see.

"I'm here, Captain. I'm here. You'll be alright…"

Isane kept speaking, but her voice trembled, tears dripping silently down her cheeks.

She looked up at Shin—at the black asauchi he'd left on the ground after Kyōraku pulled it from Unohana's body.

Why hadn't he saved her?

He could have—so why?

The question blazed in her mind, but she said nothing. She bent her head and focused on healing.

Though a few moments had been lost, Isane was still the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain—her Kaidō second only to Unohana herself.

With her and the others working together, Unohana's condition finally stabilized. Her breathing slowed to a weak but steady rhythm.

Everyone exhaled in relief.

Yamamoto, seeing her pull back from the brink, turned to Sasakibe.

"You'll oversee what comes next."

"Yes, sir."

Yamamoto looked once more at Shin.

"Come with me."

Kyōraku, Ukitake, and Soifon exchanged glances as the two walked off.

Ukitake sighed. "How did it come to this…"

Yamamoto's voice had been calm, but none of them dared intervene.

Ukitake asked, "Do you think Shin will be punished?"

Kyōraku shook his head. "I don't know."

It felt like Shin had fooled them all.

But why?

He had no grudge against Unohana… Could it really have been about fulfilling her death wish?

Then why leave her alive—just barely—so she could be treated?

None of them could make sense of it.

Sasakibe approached Isane to confirm Unohana's condition.

Yamamoto had put him in charge to ensure the incident remained secret. Even now, Unohana and the others couldn't return to the Fourth.

Sōkyoku Hill – The Hill of Execution

Yamamoto brought Shin to the top of the hill.

Sōkyoku was made of a massive spear and crucifix scaffold. When released, it took the form of the giant avian Kōtotsu King, said to wield the power of a million Zanpakutō.

The hill overlooked a wide swath of Seireitei. Not far away stood the tall white tower of Senzaikyū—the Repentance Cell.

Yamamoto stared at the tower for a long time before speaking.

"I'll ask you just once. Did you really intend to kill Unohana?"

The wind howled across the peak. His voice was hard, cracked like aged stone.

After a long silence, Shin finally spoke.

"Captain Kyōraku's Kaidō is extremely limited—less effective than a standard Fourth Division medic. On his own, he couldn't have kept Captain Unohana alive long enough for help to arrive. If we had sent her to the Fourth, there might've been a chance."

When he stabbed Unohana, he had left a portion of his reiryoku in her heart—prepared to trigger his Stasis ability at any time.

Kyōraku hadn't noticed. Without that reiryoku to preserve her, she would've died.

Just as Yamamoto had said—she had the strength to rise and heal herself, but she simply lay there, waiting to die.

"Head-Captain… your order effectively doomed her. In that sense, you're as much her killer as I am."

Yamamoto turned slowly, veins bulging across his hand clenched around his cane. His gaunt face was shadowed under the looming scaffold.

The wind flared Shin's haori—but suddenly, the overwhelming pressure on him faded.

Yamamoto lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

The clouds drifted gently.

In truth, Soul Society was at peace.

If what Shin said was true, then yes—he had made the choice to abandon Unohana.

Did he regret it?

As Head-Captain, regret had no place. Soul Society came first. Even if it seemed heartless, he had done what he must.

But Shin…

He had still left Unohana a lifeline. Had made sure she could survive.

Yamamoto couldn't quite see through him.

If one traced his actions, everything he did seemed to revolve around Unohana.

Was that truly all?

He asked again, "Did you not consider the consequences of your actions?"

Shin smiled faintly. "That's your second question, Head-Captain."

Yamamoto glared silently.

"To protect Soul Society long-term—that's your burden. You've etched duty and responsibility into your soul. But me… I'm just a minor captain in the Tenth Division. I don't have your broad, icy heart. I only need to do what I believe is right."

"As for consequences… I made my choice. I won't regret it."

When Unohana Retsu opened her eyes again, she was lying in a quiet, unfamiliar room.

Not the First, not the Fourth—a neutral space.

"Captain, you're awake!"

Isane's voice trembled with joy.

Unohana sat up slowly, checking her wound. It had been properly treated, wrapped in bandages. Now it was just a matter of healing.

"You scared me, Captain… I really thought…"

Isane's eyes reddened again. Her voice wavered.

Unohana looked at her, then asked softly:

"Where is he?"

Isane blinked, stunned. After a moment of hesitation, she replied, "You mean… Shin?"

"…"

Isane pursed her lips. "I don't know. The Head-Captain took him. Vice-Captain Sasakibe said we have to stay here until you've recovered."

Silence.

Unohana noticed Shin's black asauchi resting beside her own Zanpakutō.

She raised her hand, reishi glowing faintly. She touched her chest—removed the bandages. Only a thin, pale scar remained.

Isane sighed in relief. "Captain, you're…"

She wanted to ask what had really happened—but seeing Unohana like this, she held her tongue.

She had smiled yesterday. Had been so gentle.

Was it all a lie?

Unohana stood, dressed, fastened her Zanpakutō, then paused—lifting Shin's blade as well.

She opened the door.

In the courtyard outside stood two Fourth Division members.

And not just them—Kyōraku and Ukitake were also there.

Soifon stood guard by the entrance alone.

"Captain Unohana."

"Unohana-senpai!"

Kyōraku and Ukitake had been talking. They rushed over.

"You… you're alright?"

Hearing that Unohana had stabilized, Sasakibe and Soifon also came over.

This was a hidden courtyard in Seireitei. The matter of Shin and Unohana had to remain secret, so Sasakibe had secured the location and briefed everyone involved.

"The Head-Captain?"

Unohana turned to Sasakibe.

He blinked, then nodded. "I'll inform him."

Unohana spoke again, calm and even:

"Tell him—I'll keep my promise."

"Eh?"

Sasakibe froze.

Promise…?

What pro—

His eyes widened. He bowed quickly. "Understood."

Kyōraku and Ukitake exchanged glances—both visibly confused.

Soifon finally spoke. "Captain Unohana… does that mean this is over?"

She could guess what the promise had been—likely something to restrain Unohana, given recent events.

Unohana didn't answer. She just stared at her.

Soifon continued, "You were nearly killed by Tachikawa. Don't you hate him? Don't you blame him?"

Isane clenched her fists.

Unohana replied, "Do you know… why he tried to kill me?"

Soifon hesitated. The Head-Captain hadn't told her. She'd followed orders—but knew little else.

She tried to guess.

"Because he knew about your past as the First Kenpachi… and insisted on fighting you?"

Unohana looked down at the black asauchi in her hand.

"It was me who asked him to kill me. He only followed my will, obeyed my command."

She paused, then added: "That was before."

Soifon stood frozen, unable to understand.

The others said nothing.

Unohana turned to Sasakibe. "Can we return now?"

Sasakibe hesitated. No orders yet. But…

He gritted his teeth. "Captain Unohana… please don't speak of this to anyone…"

"Don't worry," she said.

"I know what to do."

Her gaze passed beyond him, beyond the courtyard, toward the distant sky.

"I know what to do…"

She said it again.

At that moment, back in the First Division barracks—

Shin blinked.

A prompt appeared before him:

[Unohana Retsu]

[Affection Level: 90]